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Apple Lossless (ALAC) keeps all of the encoded source data, while AAC discards some information to keep files smaller. Whether you can hear that gap depends on the track, your playback chain, and your ears, and Apple does not claim a universal, independently tested result. The most important practical point is this: if you listen through the AirPods or Beats models Apple lists, the Bluetooth link is not lossless, so enabling lossless in Apple Music will not deliver lossless audio to those headphones.
What the two formats actually do
ALAC is lossless compression, similar in principle to a ZIP archive: when the file is decoded, it matches the encoded source exactly. AAC is a lossy format. It removes information that its encoder judges to be less perceptible in order to reduce file size. Apple’s support material describes the two as different encodings, and its import guidance in iTunes ties higher AAC bitrates to better quality and larger files (Apple Support, “Choose import settings in iTunes on Mac”).
That difference is about the encoding. It is not the same as a guaranteed audible difference. Two files can be technically different and still sound the same to a particular listener on a particular system, and the sections below explain why.
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Apple Music’s lossless tiers
Apple Music’s ALAC catalog spans 16-bit/44.1 kHz to 24-bit/192 kHz. The two settings a listener chooses between are capped at different points within that range:
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| Setting | Maximum resolution | What Apple’s guidance states |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | 24-bit/48 kHz | Lossless streaming and downloads use significantly more data and storage than AAC. |
| Hi-Res Lossless | 24-bit/192 kHz | Higher resolutions use more data; playback on many devices needs an external DAC above 48 kHz (see the playback section). |
| AAC (standard) | Not stated in Apple’s current support pages reviewed for this article | No current Apple Music AAC bitrate is published in these sources, so no bitrate should be assumed. |
Apple’s iPhone guide describes these settings in Play lossless audio in Music on iPhone. It also says streamed quality depends on song availability, network conditions, and the capability of the connected headphones or speakers. In other words, a lossless setting is a request, and a track may not play at that quality in every situation.
Can you hear the difference?
Apple’s own claim comes from its Apple Digital Masters documentation (April 2021). It says carefully guided AAC encodes can produce “a final product that’s virtually indistinguishable from the original studio recording.” Apple also provides a real-time comparison tool that plays 256 kbps AAC against a source file. Both of these are Apple’s description of its own mastering and auditioning workflow. They are not an independent finding that every AAC file is transparent to every listener.
The sources reviewed for this article do not include a named, independent, controlled listening study that compares Apple Music AAC against Apple Music ALAC across multiple listeners, tracks, and playback setups. No listening statistic is asserted here. Any claim about audibility should name the track, the encoding, the listener, the playback chain, and the test method.
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Apple’s podcast documentation contains a related line: “For the same bit rate, AAC will result in better audio quality” (Apple Podcasts for Creators, “Audio requirements”). That statement concerns RSS podcast audio recommendations, which list 128 to 256 kbps for stereo at 44.1 or 48 kHz. It does not compare Apple Music’s AAC with ALAC, so it should not be used as evidence for or against lossless streaming in Apple Music.
If you want to test for yourself, use a track you know well, play it on the same device and output, switch between quality settings, and match the loudness of the two playbacks before judging. This is a method for your own listening, not a result we have measured.
The playback chain decides what reaches your ears
A lossless source can be undone at the output stage. The sections below follow Apple’s current support guidance, which lists different requirements for each connection. Device and software requirements change, so check Apple’s current support pages for your exact model before relying on any single row.
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Bluetooth: AirPods and Beats
For the AirPods and Beats models Apple lists, playback uses Apple’s AAC Bluetooth codec. The listed AirPods are AirPods 3 or earlier, AirPods Pro (1st generation), AirPods Pro 2 with the Lightning Charging Case, and AirPods Max, along with most Beats wireless headphones. Apple’s support page states plainly: “However, Bluetooth connections aren’t lossless” (Apple Support, “About lossless audio in Apple Music,” published September 28, 2026).
Apple also lists certain newer USB-C-connected Apple headphones as supporting lossless playback when specified software and firmware versions are installed. Those models are covered by their own entries on the same page, so do not generalize from the Bluetooth rule to every current Apple headset.
iPhone and iPad
Lossless can be played through wired headphones, a receiver, powered speakers, or the built-in speakers. An external DAC is needed for playback above 48 kHz on iPhone and iPad.
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Mac
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models support native playback up to 96 kHz. Other Mac computers need an external DAC above 48 kHz. Apple’s page does not state the requirement for rates above 96 kHz on the MacBook Pro models.
Windows PCs and Android
Apple’s guidance describes wired and built-in playback on Windows PCs, with an external DAC needed above 48 kHz. On Android, playback can use wired equipment, and a DAC may be needed above 48 kHz depending on the device.
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|---|---|---|
| AirPods 3 or earlier, AirPods Pro (1st gen), AirPods Pro 2 with Lightning case, AirPods Max, most Beats wireless headphones | No; Bluetooth connection is not lossless and uses Apple’s AAC Bluetooth codec | Not applicable to the Bluetooth link |
| iPhone or iPad, wired headphones, receiver, or powered speakers | Yes | Needed |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch or 16-inch | Yes, native playback up to 96 kHz | Not needed up to 96 kHz; not stated above 96 kHz |
| Other Mac computers | Yes, through wired or built-in output | Needed |
| Windows PC, wired or built-in output | Yes | Needed |
| Android, wired equipment | Yes, depending on the device | May be needed, depending on the device |
Bandwidth and storage
Apple says lossless streaming consumes significantly more data, and lossless downloads need significantly more device space. Higher resolutions consume more still. Apple does not publish a fixed ratio, so estimate your own use by checking how much data you stream on a typical day and how much storage your downloaded library occupies. Apple’s iPhone guide allows streaming quality and download quality to be chosen separately, which lets you keep mobile data use lower while saving higher-quality files for offline listening.
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- UltraPlush ear cushions are designed for comfort and durability.
- Up to 50 hours of battery life.
How to enable lossless on iPhone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then tap Music.
- Tap Audio Quality.
- Turn on Lossless Audio. Lossless is capped at 24-bit/48 kHz, and Hi-Res Lossless at 24-bit/192 kHz.
- Choose your streaming quality and your download quality separately.
- Play a track you know well, and confirm the quality you hear matches your expectations on your connected output.
If a track does not play at the quality you selected, check three things first: whether that song is available at that quality in your region, whether your network connection is stable, and whether your headphones or speakers support the format. Apple’s guidance names those three factors as the controlling variables.
Who should switch to lossless
- Wired listeners with a capable output: Lossless is worth enabling if you listen through wired headphones, a receiver, or powered speakers and have enough storage or data for the setting you choose.
- Bluetooth listeners with the listed AirPods or Beats: The lossless setting will not carry through the Bluetooth link. Keep AAC unless your connection changes.
- Hi-Res Lossless listeners: Plan for an external DAC on most iPhone, iPad, and non-MacBook Pro Mac setups above 48 kHz. Without one, Apple’s guidance indicates the output will not play at those higher rates.
- Listeners with tight data or storage: AAC is the practical default. Lossless is a larger commitment, and Apple does not promise a listening benefit in every case.
An external USB DAC is the main accessory relevant to this decision, and only for wired playback above 48 kHz. It does not convert an AAC stream into lossless audio.
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